Mission & Vision
The Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is a university-based resource dedicated to building strong entrepreneurial ecosystems across Tennessee and the region. We believe that entrepreneurship is for everyone, so we serve all UTK entrepreneurs and innovators (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) in any industry and at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Mission
We are the front door to entrepreneurship at UT, connecting entrepreneurs and innovators at every stage with the resources, networks and expertise needed to solve real challenges, both big and small.
Vision
An entrepreneurial culture where Volunteers are empowered to identify unmet needs and take bold action to create value through new ventures.
Our Goals
- Every student has a touch point with entrepreneurship or innovation during their college career
- Support the launch of more and more successful startups
- Develop a pipeline of future Vol entrepreneurs at every flagship high school
We achieve these goals by engaging students in real-life entrepreneurial settings, recruiting experienced mentors that are willing to help budding entrepreneurs and facilitating connections to resources that are essential for a business’s long-term success.
Our Benefactors
In 2010 — only a year after it was founded — the Haslam College of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation received a generous contribution from the Anderson family. This gift allowed the center to substantially expand its resources, connecting MBA and undergraduate students with local businesses, offering competitions and funding to student entrepreneurs and creating mentoring opportunities and an entrepreneurship minor for aspiring entrepreneurs. At that time, the center became the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Read the full story in the college’s magazine.